diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES b/RELEASE-NOTES
index 83fc3fe8b..34834ac2c 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-# Release 2.8.3
-  * Blockchain checkpoints can be added and configured from the GUI.
+# Release 2.9
+  * SPV: use binary search to locate connection point
+  * SPV: add blockchain checkpoints, configurable by user
   * Fix crash on reading older wallet formats.
 
 # Release 2.8.2
diff --git a/lib/version.py b/lib/version.py
index 2f7fed479..894329646 100644
--- a/lib/version.py
+++ b/lib/version.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ELECTRUM_VERSION = '2.8.3'  # version of the client package
+ELECTRUM_VERSION = '2.9.0'  # version of the client package
 PROTOCOL_VERSION = '0.10'   # protocol version requested
 
 # The hash of the mnemonic seed must begin with this